KIRKUS REVIEW

Stuffed animal Monkey Ono loves Beach Day (almost as much as making plans…).

Operation Beach Day: “Step One: Hide in beach bag. Step Two: Stow away in car. Step Three: Jump out. ‘BOOM! Beach Day!’ ” But the beach bag containing Monkey Ono is left behind! A tantrum ensues…until “BANANZA!” He thinks of a new plan. He will get Telly the dog to sniff the boy’s sock in the hopes that Telly will be inspired to track the boy to the beach—with Monkey Ono on his back. Alas, Telly just buries Monkey Ono in the sandbox. A flush down the toilet doesn’t get Monkey Ono to the beach. Using the hammock as a slingshot only gets him tangled in the neighbor’s laundry (the underwear, of course). He’ll never get to build sand castles or soak his feet or watch the fish…unless, with the help of Telly and Java the cat (and some creativity): “BOOM! BEACH DAY!” At home. Phillipps’ exuberant cut-paper collage illustrations feature Monkey Ono’s hand-drawn plans for beach success as well as occasional speech balloons. The results of each plan will have listeners in stitches. They will identify with his enthusiasm and learn a thing or two about creativity and cooperation.

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